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AIBU?

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Original poster

To sneak an extra child into centre parks ??

87 replies

catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 11:55

Hi
Posting on behalf of a friend (she can't easily get to Internet ATM )

She's booked a centre parks holiday in a lodge that sleeps 4.

Posting on behalf of a friend , shes in the back of beyond , no internet.

She's booked a holiday at centre parks.

Her exdh agreed to take their sn dd leaving her to take their 3ds.

All good , mum gets a break, dd gets to spend time with her dad ( at the dd request)

Based on the fact that she would have 3 dc with her she booked accommodation for 4 in total.

Now exdh has refused to take dd ( don't know all the details ) and has buffered off with new gf.

She is due to leave tomorrow for two nights.

Dd won't / can't stay with anyone but mum or dad due to sn issues.

It's too late to change the booking , no bigger lodges free anyway. Even if she could afford it.

Do you think she can get away with sneaking 4 kids plus her into accommodation for 4 ???

What about going into the pool ??

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 01/01/2013 13:52

I'm guessing she doesn't want to/can't afford the extra for a 6 bed lodge.

Charlie01234 · 01/01/2013 13:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maleview70 · 01/01/2013 14:05

I have never been given wristbands for the pool.

As you get close to check in, get one of kids to lie at the feet of the others in the back and cover them with a duvet or something similar.

Alternatively put one in the boot!

dayshiftdoris · 01/01/2013 14:13

She can't upgrade there are no lodges available - says so earlier in the thread and can well believe it at this time of year...

I have a couple of groups friends who go every year and everyone of them shares their holiday with family and friends who buy a day pass and just don't leave... if Centre Parcs really gave a toss they would be giving braclets to every guest like Butlins... I think they see it as you being on site and spending money so alls fair in love and business.

No one takes the complete piss from what I can gather - just an extra 2 people or 2+little child in a lodge rather than scores of extra people as that would be noticed.

I think you waiting with one of the dc and then her being driven in later is a fine idea... I can't see the issue at all...

Original poster
catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 14:16

Feeling really gulity now !!!

Have decided on a "half way house"

I'll pay for "extra" child on day pass, three days = £55, so actually MORE than the others are paying per head in the accomodation anyway. so CP are not missing out on any money.

I was very kindly given some money at my church by an anonomous donor, they knew about all my angst with DH and his MH issues ( if you remember my other threads) and this seems a VERY good reason to use some of it for. Pay it forward and all that !

As far as fire etc goes the CP dont keep a head count on site, you can come and go as you please once you have booked in.

OP posts:
Original poster
catfourfeet · 01/01/2013 14:18

paying for day passes not much more than extra petrol I would use TBF.

OP posts:
houseelfdobby · 01/01/2013 14:19

dominodonkey so if a shop charges prices that you think are too high, do you think it ok to steal from them? Surely the better approach is just not to buy there: just because CP charge a lot doesn't give you the right to defraud them. If you don't agree with the charges, don't go. Simples. Sneaking in an extra child is not grand larceny (not sure what that is tbh) but it is dishonest and technically criminal (although I doubt CP would prosecute in the circumstances, although they might - if they did, then encouraging the friend to sneak the child in will seem very shortsighted).

Yes, sorry, obviously we don't know what the SN are but clearly the OP is a good friend and perhaps could cope. Otherwise the OP could take one of the other DC leaving the friend with the right number of children.....

It's a rubbish situation to be in - and sounds like the fault of the ex - but you have to deal with the hand you are dealt without defrauding anyone else. Perhaps the friend has insurance that would cover cancellation and she could then book something she can afford for the new number in the family?

houseelfdobby · 01/01/2013 14:20

BTW I hope the comment above about putting a child in the boot was a joke.

ILoveTIFFANY · 01/01/2013 14:20

I can't believe so many condone this!

If something goes wrong/ there's an accident then don't we all have to pay more to go as costs and insurance increases??

Ridiculous idea

ILoveTIFFANY · 01/01/2013 14:22

It's not just a case of 'fire' precautions either

houseelfdobby · 01/01/2013 14:23

catfourfeet just seen your post. It sounds sensible and kind of you to pay for your friend's child. I hope she (? and you) have a nice stay.

duffybeatmetoit · 01/01/2013 14:44

Can I put in a thought from the DCs perspective? My dad snuck me and my DSis into a hotel once to save money on a family holiday and it ruined the holiday for me. I found it very difficult and the embarrassment has stayed with me ever since. I would rather not have gone perhaps they would feel the same?

Findingmyself · 01/01/2013 14:45

I would go for it; buy the day passes and then go with the plan of your friend leaving her eldest on site alone and then collecting the extra child. We have just been to CP and I spent two of the 3 nights sleeping on the sofa due to DH's snoring! It was fine; very comfy. I would just take an extra duvet and pillow along.

Hope they all have a lovely time! I'm very jealous, CP is our favourite place!

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 01/01/2013 16:18

Houseelf there is no way insurance would cover this as it's been brought about by the ex's actions.

Catfour you sound like a lovely friend.

Pictureperfect · 01/01/2013 22:01

I know the CP spa has a disabled rate that they don't publicise, the carer goes in for free, I'm wondering if it applies to other aspects of CP

myBOYSareBONKERS · 01/01/2013 22:16

if your going for the day couldn't you stay over in the lodge too? Take sleeping bags etc

Badgersnatch · 01/01/2013 22:34

I thought CPs was midweek (4 nights mon-fri) or weekend (fri-mon). Never heard of Weds-Fri.

juneybean · 02/01/2013 01:02

Special thingies at Christmas and New Year I think

lunar1 · 02/01/2013 20:13

hope it went ok

complexnumber · 02/01/2013 20:56

I think you are definitely being unreasonable.

I think the fact that you have posted on here suggests that you know that already.

Why do you deserve a freebie?

CP's are not cheap, and I have noticed that thigs can get crowded at times, maybe it's because families like you are trying to slip a small one by.

It's the same as condoning shoplifting.

perceptionInaPearTree · 02/01/2013 21:11

When I went to Center Parcs, nobody counted how many of us there were in the car and we were not given bracelets for swimming either..........this was Whinfell Forrest.

Lovesabadboy · 03/01/2013 00:20

We were told about a friend of a friend who took their gerbil to CP in a cage.
They were charged £55.00 at the gate for it!!! Shock

Because of this, I am not surprised that they examine the car with a fine-toothed comb and will charge for any extra breathing creature they find! Grin

festivelyfocussed · 03/01/2013 08:36

What power this XP has. He welches on an arrangement with his dd and we have the mother, her friend and a group of MNErs wrestling with how to break the law rather than dealing with the man that caused the problem.
I don't rally have any strong feelings about the morality of the CP entry issue but it sounds like it has the potential to be v. Stressful.
This man needs to be reminded of his paternal responsibilities and stop fucking about with people's plans so he can do the same with his GF. Ffs!

Hulababy · 03/01/2013 08:40

Never been counted in or out, and never had a wristband for swimming, etc.

Have been on a day pass and no checks to see if we'd left.

theoriginalandbestrookie · 03/01/2013 08:44

Exactly ff, how ridiculous that this selfish a**hole can spoil the poor DCs holiday like this.
OP hope "your friends" get the extra person in and it works out ok. CP makes their money on what you spend inside the park as well as accomodation so I don't have a huge amount of moral angst about what you planned to do.

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